The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Katsina State Command, says it has uncovered new tactics used by human traffickers and illegal immigrants to cross the country’s borders.
The Comptroller of the command, Mr Muhammad Rabi’u, made the disclosure in Katsina on Thursday at the decoration of 121 newly-promoted officers of the service.
Rabi’u said that traffickers and illegal immigrants had now resorted to riding on the back of animals like donkeys, horses and motorcycles to cross the borders.
He said the traffickers walked long distances through the forests of the border communities to enter Niger Republic, pass through Libya and then Europe.
According to him, the command has arrested a good number of suspected human traffickers, rescued their victims and handed them over to relevant authorities, from January, 2016, to date.
The comptrollers revealed that two officers sustained injuries as a result of auto crash while discharging their duties during the period under review.
He said that the command would continue to intensify patrols in the border areas to make the borders more secure.
He commended the Federal Government for providing modern facilities that would assist to provide intelligence information on border activities.
Rabiu urged the promoted officers and men to reciprocate the gesture through hard work and dedication to duty for the attainment of the desired objective.
”You are now expected to live up to this new higher level of responsibility and responsiveness.
‘’I enjoin you to continue to put in your best for our noble service and beloved country,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Kasim Ilyasu, was also decorated with his new rank of Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI).
Mr Haji Idris, the new Deputy Comptroller of Immigration who spoke on behalf of the promoted officers, assured that they would continue to put in their best to secure the borders.(NAN)